Armor-plate.



J. SHAABER.

AnmonvPLAn-z.

application mea Apr. '7, 1902 (N0 Mdel.)

UNITED STATES ATENT Fries;

JACOB SHAABER, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARMOR-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,605, dated November 4, 1902.

` Application inea A151117, 1902. serial no. 101,657. or@ man.)

T0 cir/ZZ wir/0m it mln/,y concern:

zen of the United States, residing in the city of Reading, county o f Berks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Armor-Plates, of whichV the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved armor- A plate of the composite type arranged to provide a yielding resistance to the projectile and at the same time deliectit from its course and so impair its penetrating power.

The invention is fully described in connec- Y tion with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features are specified in the claims. Figure 1 is a plan view of 'the main or base plate, indicating the springs located in one of the chamber-recesses formed in it, and small portions only of the piston-plate on said springs and of the cover-plate. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line x 0c of Fig. l, the parts being indicated in final positions; and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cover-plate only partially drawuto its seat. l

A represents the main or base plate, preferably made of cast-steel and formed with chamber-recesses a a in its outer face, each adapted to receive a series of springs B, and a piston-plate C loosely fitting lthe recess and serving as a follower-plate to distribute the force of a striking projectile.

D is a cover-plate of relatively thin rolled; steel, corresponding in size with-.the mainA means of screw-bolts E, the piston-plates C being at the same time pressed down into the y chamber-recesses a ct. .l

My improved armor-plate may be fastened to the body of a Vessel or .the-like in any ordinary manner, and when so applied will pre- Be it known that I, J AooB SHAABER, a citi sent the appearance of a solid plate, though inreality very much lighter in weight, less costly, and more easily and accurately iitted 'to the vessel. Moreover, its resisting qualities will be increased rather than diminished as compared with the solid plate of greater Weight, because, rst, of the more gradual and distributed strain brought upon it byimpact of aprojectile therewith, and, second, because of the tilting of the projectile which is almost sure to result after its point has penetrated the cover-plate D. It will be readily understood that thepiston-plate C when it is struck by the point of the projectile and forced down against the resisting tension of the Asprings B will not only serve to distribute and gradually take up the momentum of the projectile, but that it will also practically yield or move unequally if the point of impact is anywhere exceptat the exact center of a chamber-recess, thus tilting the plate C t Aand causing the point of the projectile to turn more or less from its original course, and thereby greatly reduce its penetration. In order to assist this turning tendency on the projectile I preferably employ grooved or corrugated sheets for the piston-plates and rounded edges ct' on the base-plate ribs, as indicated. 1

What I claim is-v 1. A'composite armor-plate comprising a base-plate formed with one or more chamberrecesses in its outer face, springs and a pist0n-plate in each of said recesses and a rigidly-secured cover-plate substantially as set forth.

2. A composite armor-plate comprising a base-plate formed with one or more chamber- Yrecesses in its outer face, springs and a piston-plate in each of said recesses and a coverplate rigidly secured against the outer face of the base-plate and serving to compress the springs substantially as set forth.

In testimony WhereofI affix my signature in the presence ot' two witnesses.

JACOB SHAABER.

Witnesses:

D. M. STEWART, W. G. STEWART. 

